CVE-2021-24432 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis
Learn about CVE-2021-24432 impacting Advanced AJAX Product Filters plugin for WordPress. Understand the XSS vulnerability, its impact, and mitigation steps to secure your website.
Advanced AJAX Product Filters < 1.5.4.7 - Unauthenticated Reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
Understanding CVE-2021-24432
This CVE involves an unauthenticated reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Advanced AJAX Product Filters WordPress plugin.
What is CVE-2021-24432?
The Advanced AJAX Product Filters plugin for WordPress is affected by an unauthenticated reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) flaw, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages.
The Impact of CVE-2021-24432
Exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access, data theft, or defacement of websites that have the plugin installed, posing a significant risk to website owners and visitors.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-24432
This section provides an overview of the vulnerability details.
Vulnerability Description
The issue arises from the plugin's failure to properly sanitize the 'term_id' POST parameter, enabling attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of a user's browser session.
Affected Systems and Versions
The vulnerability affects versions of Advanced AJAX Product Filters plugin prior to 1.5.4.7, making websites with affected versions vulnerable to XSS attacks.
Exploitation Mechanism
Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting a specially-crafted URL containing the malicious script, which when clicked by a user with the plugin active, executes the script in their browser.
Mitigation and Prevention
Protecting systems against CVE-2021-24432 involves immediate actions to mitigate risks and implementing long-term security practices.
Immediate Steps to Take
Website administrators should deactivate or update the Advanced AJAX Product Filters plugin to version 1.5.4.7 or higher to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.
Long-Term Security Practices
Regularly monitor security advisories, conduct security assessments, and educate users on safe browsing practices to enhance overall website security.
Patching and Updates
Developers should prioritize timely patching of known vulnerabilities and regularly update plugins to the latest secure versions to prevent potential security incidents.